Resist Intimidation and Bullying

What does resisting intimidation have to do with being a citizen, much less a good one? A lot and here's why!

Intimidation is when someone wants you to do something that you don't believe is appropriate and suggests that if you don't comply, you will suffer an uncomfortable consequence. Sometimes the negative consequence is implied and not mentioned.

Intimidation is also when someone wants you NOT to do something you believe should be done and threatens an uncomfortable consequence if you don't comply with their wishes.

These uncomfortable consequences - stated or implied - usually involve the threat of physical harm; embarrassment; or the lose of prestige, stature, an opportunity, employment and so on. You get the idea.

People that intimidate are bullies. They are cowards and often have been bullied themselves and weren't strong enough to stand up to the bully. When someone stands up to bully, the bully usually backs off. When we don't stand up to a bully, they feel more emboldened and their bullying and threats become more frequent and more severe.

When we give into a bully, we are hurting the country. How? Well first, when we don't resist intimidation, something happens that shouldn't or something isn't happening that should. Second, if we don't resist intimidation, we essentially lose our freedom to speak or act in a way that is in the best interest of the country. And we don't feel good about ourselves.

Political correctness is a result of intimidation. Political correctness eminates from our unwillingness to say what we think for fear that someone will call us a name.

When a citizen in a democracy can be intimidated, their actions are co-opted by someone else.

Ralph Waldo Emerson has a relevant quote - "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."

If I were to rank the citizen actions, this one would be right at the top of the list.